Wild Swimming, from the Lizard to Loch Lomond

All around the UK, wild swimming is becoming an increasingly popular pastime. Being based in Cornwall, we’re never too far from some super wild swimming spots, be it off the rugged coast, from sandy coves or in secret quarries and hidden glens. We regularly see locals taking a dip, some in wetsuits, and others just in their bathers!

We’re not going to pretend it’s not cold, it is! Water temperatures average around just 7°C in the winter. We don’t often stay in for long, but there’s something really exhilarating about jumping into the fresh, natural water. And, unlike some sports, it brings people together. There’s a real sense of comradery among impassioned wild swimmers. There are organised wild winter swims around the country, many of them raising money for charity.

One of our favourite spots for swimming is down on the Lizard peninsula. The climb down to Kynance Cove offers some incredible scenery, and on a calm day, the crystal clear waters are incredibly inviting. Blanketsand hot chocolates are always on hand when it’s time to get out.

Neil’s friends and members of the Porthtowan surf boat crew, are no strangers to wild swimming, but next month they will be taking it one stroke further. Braving the icy waters of Loch Lomond in Scotland, they’ll be taking part in the International Ice Swimming Championships to help raise money for a new surfboat and Mercy Rescue Trust, a Cornish based charity which supports an orphanage in Kenya. The water in the loch will be around 2°C and no wetsuits are allowed, so it’s just speedos, hats and goggles! We’ll never complain about the sea temperature again.

We’re wishing the team the best of luck for their 1000m swim, and can’t wait to hear how they’ve got on.

About me

Laura works in our content team, and when out of the office can be found paddling around in the sea or ambling along a coast path. She loves hidden coves, photographs and St Michael’s Mount, and spends most of her time fending questions on why she doesn’t like tea!